GRAMMAR

REPORTED
SPEECH
GRADE 9
TH F
 She told me that Bla bla bla...
bla bla bla...

REPORTED
SPEECH
•DEFINITION :
•Indirect speech (also called
reported speech) is a report of
what somebody has said that does
not use their exact words.
EX:

She said she liked

ice cream.
 Grammar in action:
1. Indirect speech is often used by
reporters on the media:
Ex: Yesterday evening,
film stars Nelson Faulkes
and Amy Skelp told our
reporter that they were
going to married next
week.
2. We often use indirect speech to
tell someone else what we have
heard in a talk or speech.

Ex: The lecturer said

that global warming
would be the main issue
in mid-century politics.
•Indirect speech is used to tell
someone about something you have
read.
Ex: In his Times
column, Wilson said
that At Gloaming was
the best film he had
seen for a long time.
3. We often use indirect speech when
we gossip with friends, family and
colleagues:
Ex: That guy in HR said he didn’t like
the new manager at all, but I think she’s
ok.
REPORTED SPEECH
Statements
Question
Commands, Requests &
Advice
 Reported Statements
1. Reported statements with the
reporting verb in the present:
Ex: “I have eaten the apple.”

 She says that she

has eaten the apple.
•The reporting verb is often in the
present when:
1. We are passing on messages.

What does She says you

mother say? must come in
now.
2. Reading aloud and reporting.

Ex: The instructions say

that you connect this plug
to the set.
3. Reporting what someone often
says.

Ex: She’s always

telling me how rich she
is.
2. Reported statements with tense
changes:
A. Common indirect speech forms:
Ex: “I am going to the cinema", he
said.
 He said he was going
to the cinema.
Tense change (backshift of tense)

“present becomes past and past

becomes past perfect”
 She said, "It is cold."

 She said it was cold.

Present simple Past simple
She said, "I taught online
yesterday."

 She said she had taught online the

day before.

Past simple Past perfect

She said, "The lesson had
already started when he
arrived."

 She said the lesson had already started

when he arrived.

Past perfect Past perfect

 Direct speech Indirect speech
Present simple Past simple

Present continuous Past continuous

Present perfect Past perfect

Present perfect continuous Past perfect

continuous
Past simple Past perfect

Past continuous Past perfect continuous

Past perfect Past perfect

Past perfect continuous Past perfect continuous

 Modal verb forms also sometimes change:

Ex: She said, "I can teach English

online."

 She said she could teach English

online.

can could
Modal verb forms also sometimes change:

can could
will would
must had to
shall would/ should
may might
 !Note - There is no change
to: could, would, should,
might and ought to.

Ex: "I might go to the cinema", he

said.

 He said he might go to the cinema.

 !Note - The present tense in reported
speech can be used to say that
something is still true.

“The earth goes round the sun.”

 He proved that the earth goes round

the sun.
 !Note - The present tense can be used to
talk about a future event.

"Next week's lesson is on reported

speech ", she said.

 She said next week's lesson is on

reported speech.
Practice exercise: Turn each direct speech into indirect
speech with tense changes.
was
1. 'I am very tired.' She said she …………
very tired.
2. 'You play the piano very well.'  Mr Jones
played the piano very well.
told me I ………………
3. 'We 're leaving the town.' He told me
were leaving
they ……………………… the town.
4. 'He hasn't shaved.' I noticed that he
hadn’t shaved.
……………………….
5. 'Your parents have had an accident.'
Sally rang to say that your parents
had had
………………… an accident.
6. 'I left home at seventeen.' Her letter
said that she …………………..
had left home at
seventeen.
7. 'Don't worry! He won't say anything to
wouldn’t say
the police'. I was sure he ……………………….
anything to the police.
8. 'None of our relatives will come.' They
would come
knew none of their relatives ……………………..
9. 'This parcel has been opened at the
customs.' I could see the parcel
had been opened at the customs.
………………………….
B. Pronoun and adverb changes in
indirect speech:

Today "Today's lesson is on

presentations."

+ 24 hours

 She said yesterday's

lesson was on presentations.
At work
"I have worked here
since 1998 "

At home
She said she had
worked there since
1998.
 Direct speech Indirect speech

now then / at that time

last night, that night, on Monday
tonight
night
today yesterday, that day, on Monday
the day before / the previous day, on
yesterday
Sunday

the previous night / the night before,

last night
on Sunday night
tomorrow today, the following day, on Tuesday
 Direct speech Indirect speech

this week last week, that week

the previous month / the

last month
month before, in June

this year, the following year /

next year
the year after, in 1996

five minutes ago five minutes before

in two hours' time two hours later

Practice exercise: turn each direct speech into
indirect speech with tense changes and time changes.

1. ' I was listening to the radio yesterday '.

 He said ………………………………
…………………………………………
2. ' I was in Spain last week '.
 She said ……………………………….
…………………………………………
3. ' I want to visit my parents this evening '.
 Susy said ………………………………
…………………………………………
4. ' I'll give you the money back next
week '.
She said ……………………………
…………………………………………
5. ' I'll help you tomorrow '.
He said ………………………………
………………………………………….
Practice exercise: turn each direct speech into
indirect speech with tense changes and time changes.

1. ' I was listening to the radio yesterday '.

he had been listening to
 He said ………………………………
the radio the day before.
…………………………………………
2. ' I was in Spain last week '.
she had been in Spain
 She said ……………………………….
the previous week.
…………………………………………
3. ' I want to visit my parents this evening '.
she wanted to visit her
 Susy said ………………………………
parents that evening.
…………………………………………
4. ' I'll give you the money back next
week '.
She said ……………………………
she would give me the
money back the week after .
…………………………………………
5. ' I'll help you tomorrow '.
He said ………………………………
he would help me the next
day.
………………………………………….
 Pronoun change

"I teach English online."

 She said she taught English

online.
Rules for the Change of Pronouns in
Indirect Speech
1. First person pronouns change
according to the subject of the
reporting verb.

Ex: He said, ‘I am busy.’

He said that he was busy.

2. Second person pronouns change
according to the object of the reporting
verb.

Ex: He said to me, ‘You have

to come with me.’

 He told me that I had to go with him.

3. Third person pronouns will not
change.
Ex: He said, ‘She is a
good girl.’

 He said that she was a

good girl.
 Direct Speech Reported Speech

Personal Pronouns

I / you (subject) she / he

we / you (subject) they

me / you (object) him / her

us / you (object) them

 Possessive Pronouns / Determiners

my / your his / her

mine / yours his / hers
our / your their
ours / yours theirs
Demonstrative Pronouns / Determiners

This That
These Those
3. Reporting Verbs:
•We use say and tell in both direct
and indirect speech.

Ex: I said "I'm hungry." 

 I said that I was

hungry
•We cannot use say or
tell with indirect
questions.

Jim told/said me if I wanted to play

football. incorrect

Jim asked (me) if I wanted to play

football. correct
4. Using objects:
S + tell + SO + (that) + ….

He told me that he liked playing

tennis. - Correct
He said me that he liked playing
tennis. - Incorrect
He told that he liked playing tennis.
- Incorrect
 S + say to + SO + (that) + ….

Ex: He said to them

that he would be late.

!Note: With other objects, we don't

usually use tell.
He said a strange thing - Correct
He told a strange thing – Unusual
5. Use of 'That' in reported speech

- He told me that he lived in

Greenwich.

- He told me he lived in
Greenwich.

!Note - That is never used in

questions, instead we often use if.
He asked me if I would come to the party.
Watch the movie
segment and
answer the
questions
1. ( T ) I was in an Egyptian Tomb
2. ( T ) I'll wait for that glass of champagne at the
Copacabana
3. ( R ) It's nothing, I'll be OK.
4. ( R ) Draw my bath.
5. ( R ) I can't wait to get out of these clothes.
6. (T ) I am very impressed.
7. ( T ) You've been here all day.
8. ( T ) This is the fifth time you're seeing this.
9. ( R ) Come here quickly
10. ( T ) Who are you?
11. ( T ) I'm free.
12. ( C ) What's going on?
• Tom said (that) he was in an Egyptian tomb..
• Tom said he would wait for that glass at the Copacabana.
• Rita said it was nothing, She would be OK.
• Rita told the maid to draw her bath.
• Rita said she couldn't wait to get out of those clothes.
• Tom said he was very impressed.
• Tom said she had been there all day.
• Tom said that was the fifth time she was seeing that.
• Rita told Tom to come there quickly
• Tom (Cecilia) asked Cecilia (Tom) who she (he) was?
• Tom said he was free.
• Cecilia asked what was going on.
Reported Question

YES /NO QUESTIONS

WH- QUESTIONS
•General:
reporting verbs: ask, want to know, wonder
and inquire...

Tense, pronoun and possessive adjective, and

adverbs of time and place change as in
statement

The interrogative form of the verbs changes to

the affirmative form.

The question mark (?) is omitted.

 YES /NO QUESTIONS

Ex: “Do you want to

go to the movie with
me?”

 My friend asked me if I
wanted to go to the movie
with him.
1. Don’t use comma, quotation marks
or question marks.

•“Are you ready?”, he

said.

 He asked me if I was ready.

2. Speech verb: ask, want to know,
wonder, …

Ex: “Did you see the

accident?” the policemen
asked.

 The policemen asked if/whether

I had seen the accident.
•“said”  “wanted to know,
wondered, …”
•“said to”  “asked”

Ex: "Is it raining?" she said to me

=> She asked me if/

whether it was raining.
3. The inversion in the direct
question changes to statement word
order.

“Are you ready?”

 He asked (me) if/whether I was ready.
A reported tag question

“You are ready, aren’t you?”

 He asked (me) if/whether I

was ready.
 4. “if/whether”
•Normally we can use the either if and
whether. “If = usual, whether = formal”

Ex: “Do you know Bill?” he said

 He asked if I knew Bill.

Ex: “Did you see the accident?” the

policemen asked.
 The policemen asked if/whether I had seen
the accident.
•Whether can emphasize that a
choice has to be made:
“Do you want to go by air or sea?” the travel
agent asked.

 The travel agent asked whether I

wanted to go by air or by sea.
•Whether or not:
“Do you want to
insure your luggage or
not?” he asked.

 He asked whether or not I wanted to

insure my luggage.
 He asked if I wanted to insure my
luggage or not.
Whether is neater if the question contains a
conditional.
Ex:
“If you get the job will you move to
York?” Bill asked.
 Bill asked whether, if I
got the job, I’d move to
York.
5. Tense, pronoun, possessive adjective,
and adverbs of time and place change as
in statement.
Practice exercise

Will I ever
lose weight?
He asked if he would ever lose
weight.
 Can anyone live
without money?

He wondered if anyone could

live without money.
 Are you sure it’s
true?

She asked if we were sure it

was true.
 Do I have to go to
school?

He asked if he had to go to
school.
 Did you enjoy your
meal, sir?

He asked if the man had

enjoyed his meal.
 Are you coming?

He asked me if I was
coming.
 Do you believe in
ghosts?

He asked me if I believed
in ghosts.
 Have you ever seen
the pyramids?

He asked me if I had ever

seen the pyramids.
 WH- QUESTIONS

He said, “Where is she going?”

 He asked where she

was going.
1. Don’t use comma, quotation marks
or question marks.

‘
 He asked me
where I was going.
’
2. Speech verb: ask, want to know,
wonder, …
•If the introductory verb is say, it must be
changed to a verb of inquiry, ex: ask,
inquire, wonder, want to know, etc:

Ex: He said, “Where is the

station?”
 He asked where the
station was.
Ask, inquire, wonder can also be used
in direct speech.
Ex: “Where is the station?” he inquired.

Ask can be followed by the person

addressed (indirect object):
Ex: He asked, “What have you got in your bag?”

 He asked (me) what I had got in my bag.

Inquire, wonder, want to know
cannot take an indirect object, we
must use ask:
Ex: He said, “Mary, when is the next
train?”

 He asked Mary
when the next train
was.
3. The inversion in the direct question
changes to statement word order.
When we report questions, the
subject comes before the verb.

Ex: "Where are you going?"

 He asked me where I was going.

Don't use the auxiliary verb do,
except in negative questions.

Ex: "Who doesn't like cheese?"

 She asked me who

didn't like cheese.
 who, what or which + to be + object

Ex: "Who is the champion?"

 She asked me who the

champion was.
 She asked me who
was the champion.
4. Tense, pronoun and possessive
adjective, and adverbs of time
and place change as in
statement.
1. The old man asked, “What is tolerance? How can
we achieve it? ”
 The old man what tolerance
inquired was and how we
……………………………………….
could achieve it
……………………………..…………………………………………………
2. The teacher asked me, “Why aren't you coming
with us. Where is your courage?”
why
 The teacher I wasn’t
asked coming with them and
me ………………………………………
where my courage was.
………………………………………………………………………...…….
3. “How did the son feel after the death of the
father?” Asked my colleague.
how
 My colleague the son
inquired had felt after the death
………………………………………
of the father.
………………………………………………………………………….……
4. “What caused the oil spill along the coast of
Lebanon?” I asked.
 I wanted what had………………………………………
to know caused the oil spill along
the coast of Lebanon.
.…………………………………………………………………………
5. The student asked, “What does the word
"tone" mean?”
 The studentwhat the word
asked “tone” meant.
……………………………………..
…………………………………………………………….……………
Reported commands,
requests and advice.
1. Use ask, tell and advise like this to report
commands, requests and advice.

Reporting
+ object + infinitive
Verb
• The secretary asked us to
fill in the form.

• Mr. Mills told the

children to stand up.

• The doctor advised Mr.

Preston to exercise.
 Negative in reporting commands,
requests and advice.

Reporting
+ object + not + infinitive
Verb

Ex: Mr. Mills told the children

not to stand up
 Work out with
me!

She told us to work out

with her.
 Sign at the
bottom, please.

The boss asked him to sign

at the bottom.
 Be careful!

He warned us to be careful.
 Listen carefully!

The teacher told us to listen

carefully.
 Look at these lovely
watches!

He told us to look at those

lovely watches.
  Common verbs
advise forbid invite
order persuade remind warn

Ex:
Ex
Ex: :‘Don’t
‘You forget
really
‘Please come to call
should
to my her
stop smoking.’
party.’
Ex: ‘Don’t go near the water.’
sister.’

He

 Iadvised
She warned
reminded mehim
to stop
them tonot to
 I invited
smoking. her to come to
go nearhis
phone thesister.
water.
my party.
2. We use these reporting verbs with
an infinitive:
agree offer promise
refuse threaten

Ex: ‘Ok, I’ll tell Jamie.’

 She agreed to tell Jamie.

3. We use an –ing form after the
reporting verbs:
recommend advise
admit deny suggest

Ex:
‘I got the answer wrong.’
 I admitted getting the
answer wrong.
Grammar in action:
1. Report what
someone has told us
to do.

2. Report what we
have told someone else
to do
Female witness 1: I saw the suspect
stealing my car.
Female judge: The witness is making
a serious accusation.
What do you have to say?
Male suspect 1: That’s not true.
Female judge 1: Speak a bit louder.
Male suspect 1: It’s not true. I have
never stolen a car.
The witness (0) claimed that she (0) had seen
the suspect stealing (1) her car. The judge (2)
pointed out that the witness (3) was making a
serious accusation and (4) asked the suspect
what he (5) had to say. The suspect (6) denied
that it (7) wasn’t true. At this point, the judge
(8) told the suspect (9)to speak a bit louder.
The suspect went on to (10) replied that he
(11)had never stolen a car.
Court official: Ladies and gentlemen, the
judge has been delayed so the
trial cannot begin until 11 o’clock.
Judge 2: The case is complicated and
will probably last two or three
weeks.
Suspect 2: But I am totally innocent,
your honour, so the case is very
simple.
Judge 2: That is for the court to decide.
Now, jury, you must not come to a
conclusion until you have heard all the
evidence.
At 10 o’clock, a court official (12) announced
that the judge (13) had been delayed so the trial
(14) couldn’t not begin before 11. When the trial
started, the judge (15) explained to the jury that
the case (16) was complicated and (17) would
probably last two or three weeks. The suspect
then stood up and (18) declared that he
(19)was innocent and said that the case (20)
was very simple. The judge (21) pointed out
that (22) was for the court to decide. He went on
to (23) instruct the jury (24) not to come to a
conclusion until they (25) had heard all the
evidence.